Katy Soljak - It's a Long Way to Texas, Baby

Waiheke artist Katy Soljak celebrates the release of her new novella with an exhibition that combines prose, painting and song

Due out in November 2022, Katy Soljak’s illustrated novella It’s a Long Ride to Texas, Baby draws on her own remarkable life experiences and showcases her variety of artistic talents: prose, visual art, songwriting, and performance. The book contains many of her paintings and she has also composed and performed accompanying songs. ‘Denton’ and ‘Heaven’, will be available for download from Spotify and iTunes.

Set in Mexico and West Texas in the 1970s, It’s a Long Ride to Texas, Baby is the story of Gala, a young Kiwi woman, who is fleeing a relationship. With her guitar and daughter in tow, she leaves LA and takes the bus to Texas. Three days later she arrives at midnight with only a few dollars in her pocket and a single phone number of someone who might be able to help her.

Artist Kelley Diener says: “This is a colourful read from beginning to end. I grew up in San Diego on the border of Mexico during the 70s and I related to young Gala’s crazy adventure of crossing the border into the unpredictable Mexican Frontier.

“The paintings incorporated into It’s a Long Ride to Texas, Baby highlight Katy’s integrated approach to story writing. She delivers up the story visually as well as effectively, weaving Gala’s heartfelt blues lyrics to tie it up this package with a bow.”